The Boardgame
Players’ Association is pleased to announce the tenth annual
meeting of its Age of Renaissance minicon gaming conference. Enlightenment
has moved down the road from the Hunt Valley Inn to the more affordable Days
Hotel.

The Age of
Renaissance action
begins Fri., March 23, at 7 p.m. and continues with two more rounds on
Sat., March 24, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. A fourth round will be played Sunday
morning, March 25. The winner for the weekend will be that player with
the highest total for any three of the four rounds. Manifest Destiny and
other assorted games will be played in open Gaming mode from 10 a.m.
on Fri., March 23, and between rounds of the tournament on Saturday.

Enlightenment
uses a unique scoring system that keeps most players in contention for
a prize throughout the weekend rather than being eliminated by a poor showing
or relegated to the “losers’ table.” Every player scores
points as a percentage of the winner’s score. This provides a real
incentive to play against the leader to prevent run-away victories. In subsequent
rounds, players are grouped according to their finish in the previous game…with
all Round 1 winners paired in Round 2, all second-place players together,
and so on. The winners compete with each other—earning a bonus point
for each other table’s winner in that round they best by posting a
wider margin of victory. Slow play is discouraged by penalizing all scores
in games that take more than five hours. This scoring mechanism has resulted
in nearly all games finishing in under five hours, with some ending in less
than four.

LODGING: Days
Hotel is offering BPA
a very favorable group room rate of $79 per night, plus applicable
state and local taxes (currently 13%). To obtain this rate you must identify
your affiliation with the BPA’s Enlightenment gaming
conference and make your reservation before March 6, 2007 (or when our
roomblock sells out, whichever occurs first) at 800-235-3297 or 410-560-1000
weekdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Eastern time.

After March
6, reservations will be accepted on a space or rate available basis. Alternately,
you may contact Days Hotel,
9615 Deereco Rd, Timonium, MD 21093. Be sure to identify your affiliation
with our group—both to get the best rate for yourself and
to credit our group with your stay. Room options include one king or two
queen size beds. Room rate includes daily continental breakfast served from
6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the second floor. Regular weekend rates are $99
per night plus applicable taxes. Chili’s
restaurant is attached to the hotel and open for lunch and dinner.

Reservations should include:

Arrival and
departure dates

Estimated
time of arrival

Room preference
(single or double, smoking or non-smoking)

Credit card
type to be used for payment including number and expiration date

REGISTRATION: Pre-Registration
is $35 (or $25 for BPA 2007 members), if received by March 7, 2007. Print
the Registration Form found here. Fill it
out and send it and a check to BPA, 7766 Valley View Court, Hickory, NC 28602.
On-site registration will be $35, regardless of BPA affiliation. NOTE:
The Enlightenment pre-registration fee is a discounted rate extended in
exchange for a guarantee to attend. As such, no refunds are allowed. There
are NO exceptions.